• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Extremely endangered Amur tiger dies in 'freak accident' ahead of dental surgery

Home> News> Animals

Published 10:03 2 Sep 2023 GMT+1

Extremely endangered Amur tiger dies in 'freak accident' ahead of dental surgery

Mila was a two-year-old tiger born at The Toronto Zoo

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are some of the world’s biggest cats. But they are also incredibly endangered.

According to the Zoological Society London, there are estimated to be between only 265-486 in their natural habitat in the Russian Far East.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (CMZoo) in Colorado had been home to a two-year-old female Amur tiger since March this year, after she moved from her mother at The Toronto Zoo.

But tragically Mila the tiger died on Friday 25 August in a freak accident.

Advert

She had been making ‘great progress’ according to the team at CMZoo, who describe her as ‘feisty and intelligent’.

They had been preparing to introduce Mila to their community, with her close to being ‘out where guests could see her’.

But this was being delayed by a dental issue suffered by the tiger.

In their announcement on Facebook, CMZoo said the infection could be ‘fatal’ and had established voluntary injection training with Mila.

Advert

Mila died on Friday 25 August.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

So, on Friday, they were able to inject her with the initial anesthesia for dental surgery.

After receiving this, the 270-pound tiger jumped up on a bench ‘where she began to lay down and peacefully let the anesthetic drugs take effect’.

However, ‘less than a minute’ after lying down, tragedy struck.

Advert

Mila slipped from the waist-high bench, causing a fatal spinal injury.

The zoo said: “It was impossible from a human safety standpoint to stop her tragic fall.”

Bob Chastain, president and CEO of CMZoo, said: “Our team delivered exactly the right amount of drugs to a very calm tiger who had trained for this moment. We have successfully anesthetized countless tigers in this same den, and have never experienced an accident like this.

“We never take decisions to anesthetize an animal for a procedure lightly, and this is a tragic example of why.”

Advert

Mila was born at The Toronto Zoo.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

With less than around 500 Amur tigers in their native habitats, there are about 100 of them in human care, at zoos and aquariums.

Mila was the only surviving cub in her litter when she was born at Toronto Zoo in April 2021.

She was moved to CMZoo on a future breeding recommendation but was yet to meet the male tiger, Chewy, as Amur tigers are solitary animals.

Advert

The CEO of Toronto Zoo, Dolf DeJong, said: “Watching Mila transform from a playful and curious young cub to an independent and often feisty young adult was an incredible experience for me, the Zoo team and the Toronto community.

“She will be deeply missed by all.”

Chastain added: “Not only was she an internationally beloved individual who defied the odds as a cub and survived to adulthood, but she was here on a mission to save her own species.”

Featured Image Credit: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo

Topics: Animals, US News

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is an Entertainment Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include keeping up with the Twitter girlies, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021 and has previously worked at MyLondon.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
3 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Hospital asks for help identifying man, 34, who has been in intensive care for weeks

    This John Doe is 5 feet 7 inches and was found in the Torrance area of California last month

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    'Mutant deer' spotted with terrifying flesh bubbles as fears grow of animal outbreak in the US

    What ever next? Crows with three eyes?

    News
  • 2 hours ago

    Expert reveals 8 warning signs that indicate your lack of sex drive could need medical attention

    The expert has said such warnings signs should see you head to the doctors

    News
  • 3 hours ago

    Trump rants on Smithsonian museums being 'out of control' for discussing 'how bad slavery was'

    The Smithsonian was the latest target of Trump's ire

    News
  • Trump 'considering' extremely bold move ahead of Putin meeting amid WW3 fears
  • What to do in a lightning storm after newlywed died in freak accident stepping into ankle-deep water
  • Kourtney Kardashian responds after she was slammed for extremely dangerous detail in photo with son
  • Groom’s mom wins $2,300,000 lawsuit after freak accident during wedding ceremony left her with ‘permanent’ injuries